Expandable display and shipping container

ABSTRACT

A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising a base, a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure. Each support is moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application No. 60/625,961 filed on 9 Nov. 2004 and entitled EXPANDABLE DISPLAY AND SHIPPING CONTAINER, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to containers for shipping and displaying products, and particularly to containers which may be converted between a shipping configuration and a display configuration.

BACKGROUND

Stand-up in-store displays are typically bulky constructions of corrugated paperboard (cardboard). In most cases, displays are broken down into component parts or flattened for shipping to reduce transportation costs. If the displays were shipped in assembled form, the sender would have to pay for the air space that would be shipped along with the product and the display. Generally, the highest possible density with which any goods are transported, the better and more cost effective the transport becomes. However, when broken down or flattened displays arrive at the store in which they are to be set up, it is often difficult for store staff to properly set up the displays and/or move the displays once they have been set up.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides containers for shipping and displaying products or other items. One aspect of the invention provides a container comprising a base, a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.

Another aspect of the invention provides a container comprising a base, a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray frame of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.

Further aspects of the invention and features of specific embodiments of the invention are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example container in a display configuration according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 1 in a shipping configuration;

FIGS. 3 to 8 are side elevation views of the container of FIG. 1 which illustrate the process of converting the container from the shipping configuration to the display configuration;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are close up views of a support hinge of the example container of FIGS. 1 to 8;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of an example container in a display configuration according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a tray frame of the container of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a tray hinge of the example container of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 11 in the display configuration;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the tray hinge of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of an example container in a display configuration according to one aspect of the invention; and,

FIG. 17 is a close up view of an interface between two of the supports of the container of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

Certain aspects of the invention provide a container for shipping and displaying items. The container may be converted between a shipping configuration wherein the items and container take up a relatively small amount of space, and a display configuration wherein the container holds the items in positions to facilitate display of the items to customers. The container may be set up directly on the floor in display configuration, or may be placed on a shelf or table. The container comprises a plurality of trays, and supports for holding the trays in the display configuration. The trays and supports may form a plurality of triangular structures when the container is in the display configuration.

FIG. 1 shows an example container 10 in a display configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container 10 comprises a base 12, a plurality of trays 14 and an advertising panel 16. Trays 14 are configured to hold products (not shown) and held at alternating acute angles to the plane of base 12 by pairs of supports 18 pivotally attached to trays 14 by rivets 19. Trays 14 are pivotally attached to base 12 in an accordion structure, wherein each tray 14 is pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of tray 14 below, and is also pivotally attached at an opposite top edge thereof to a bottom edge of tray 14 above, except for the bottommost and topmost of trays 14. The bottommost of trays 14 is pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to base 12, and the topmost of trays 14 is pivotally attached to advertising panel 16 by rivets 19. Pivotal attachment of trays 14 to each other and to base 12 may be accomplished by any suitable attachment means, including hinges, perforated cardboard sheets, or the like. Trays 14 are positioned to face in alternating directions, such that when container 10 is in the display configuration customers may view the products held in trays 14 from opposite sides of container 10.

In the FIG. 1 example, base 12 is constructed from wood, trays 14 and advertising panel 16 are constructed from cardboard, and supports 18 are constructed from steel. Trays 14 are substantially identical, which provides for reduced manufacturing costs. Also, supports 18 are substantially identical, except for the bottommost supports 18 which are shorter than the other supports 18, so that the bottommost of trays 14 is at approximately the same acute angle to the plane of base 12 as the other trays 14. In the FIG. 1 example, each tray 14 is held at an angle of approximately thirty degrees to the plane of base 12 with container 10 is in the display configuration, but it is to be understood that trays 14 may be held at different angles in the display configuration. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different construction materials could be used depending on the length of time container 10 is expected to be used and the expected weight of the products (not shown) to be placed in trays 14, and trays 14 may have different sizes and/or shapes depending on the products or items to be shipped and displayed.

Container 10 is convertible between the display configuration shown in FIG. 1 and a shipping configuration wherein container 10 may be covered by a lid 11 which fits over base 12 and trays 14, as shown in FIG. 2. Container 10 may be shipped with lid 11 held in place by packing straps or the like (not shown), and with trays 14 packed with products or other items to be displayed (not shown). In order to allow conversion of container 10 between the display and shipping configurations, each support 18 comprises a lower support arm 18A and an upper support arm 18B pivotally connected to each other by a support hinge 20, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 8.

To convert container 10 from the shipping configuration to the display configuration, a user first removes lid 11 and pivots the bottommost tray 14 up from base 12, as shown in FIG. 3. The user then moves the bottommost of supports 18 into a secured position by securing support hinges 20, as described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Next, the user pivots the next lowest tray 14 up from the bottommost tray 14 and secures support hinges 20 for the next lowest supports 18, as shown in FIG. 4. This process is repeated for each tray 14, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and then the user pivots advertising panel 16 into a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 8. Once all supports 18 have been moved into the secured position, container 10 has good stability and may be moved by lifting from one of the middle trays 14. The above process may be reversed to convert container 10 back into the shipping configuration.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate support 18 having a support hinge 20 in unsecured and secured positions, respectively. Support hinge 20 comprises a rivet 22 which pivotally connects lower support arm 18A and upper support arm 18B. In the illustrated example, a spring button 24 is provided on lower support arm 18A and a corresponding hole 26 is provided on upper support arm 18B. To move support 18 from the unsecured position shown in FIG. 9 to the secured position shown in FIG. 10, the user depresses spring button 24 and applies pressure to lower support arm 18A and upper support arm 18B as indicated by arrows 28 until support 18 is straight and spring button 24 is received in hole 26. To move support 18 back into the unsecured position, the user pushes button 24 out of hole 26 and pivots lower support arm 18A and upper support arm 18B relative to each other.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example container 30 in a display configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container 30 is similar to container 10 of FIGS. 1 to 10, except container 30 has tray frames 32 in place of trays 14 and does not have advertising panel 16 (although it is to be understood that an advertising panel 16 could be provided for the example of FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 14, each tray frame 32 comprises a flange 34 which may be used to support a tray, bin or other product holding means. The remaining elements of container 30 are the same as those of container 10 and will not be described again to avoid unnecessary repetition.

As shown in FIG. 12, each tray frame 32 comprises a pair of side members 36 and a pair of end members 38. Side and end members 36 and 38 may be constructed from injection molded plastic. Each side and end member 36 and 38 has a pair of holes 40 therethrough. Tray frame 32 is formed by placing side members 36 within the corners of end members 38 so that holes 40 line up, and inserting rivets 19 of supports 18 through holes 40. All side members 36 may be of identical construction. All end members 38 may also be of identical construction.

FIGS. 13 and 15 illustrates an example of a tray hinge 50 according to one aspect of the invention. Each end member 38 has a male hinge member 52 extending from a lower edge thereof and a female hinge member 54 extending from an upper edge thereof. For each tray frame 32, male hinge member 52 of one end member 38 is received in female hinge member 54 of tray frame 32 below and female hinge member 54 of the other end member 38 receives male hinge member 52 of tray frame 32 above, except for the bottommost and topmost tray frames 32. Male hinge member 52 of the bottommost of tray frames 32 is received in a base hinge member 56 on base 12, and female hinge member 54 of the topmost of tray frames 32 is open.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example container 60 in a display configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container 60 is similar to container 10 of FIGS. 1 to 10, except supports 62 of container 60 are not hinged, and container 60 does not have advertising panel 16 (although it is to be understood that an advertising panel 16 could be provided for the example of FIG. 16). Supports 62 may be pivoted such that they are positioned parallel to trays 14 when container 60 is in the shipping configuration. The remaining elements of container 60 are the same as those of container 10 and will not be described again to avoid unnecessary repetition.

Each support 62 of the FIG. 16 example is connected to one of trays 14 by a rivet 63 through an upper portion thereof. Each support 62 comprises an upper connector 64 and a lower connector 66. Each support 62 may be moved into the secured position by engaging its lower connector 66 with upper connector 64 of support 62 below, except for the bottommost pair of supports 62 and the second bottommost pair of supports 62. The two bottommost pairs of supports 62 may be moved into the secured position by engaging lower connectors 66 thereof with suitable connectors (not shown) on base 12, or by attaching the lower ends thereof to base 12 with screws, nails or the like. It is to be understood that the method of securing the two bottommost pairs of supports 62 to base 12 may vary without departing from the spirit or scope of this aspect of the invention.

One of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66 may comprise a male connector, and the other may comprise a female connector. Supports 62 may be held in the secured position by gravity when connectors 64 and 66 are engaged. Alternatively, a locking mechanism 68 may optionally be provided to secure connectors 64 and 66. As shown in FIG. 17, locking mechanism 68 may comprise a spring button 70 in the male one of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66 and a correspondingly shaped hole 72 in the female one of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66. A user may secure connectors 64 and 66 by depressing spring button 70 and inserting the male one of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66 in the female one of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66 until spring button 70 is received in hole 72.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. For example:

-   -   Although the illustrated example containers each comprise 5         trays, the number of trays may vary from as few as 2 trays to as         many trays as weight and height constraints allow.     -   Although the trays of the illustrated example containers are         each held at approximately the same acute angle with respect to         the plane of the base, the trays may be at different angles with         respect to the plane of the base.     -   The area and depth of each tray may vary.     -   The materials from which the containers are constructed may         vary. For example, in addition to cardboard and injection molded         plastic, the trays may be constructed from metal, wood, vacuum         formed plastic, extruded plastic, etc.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 

1. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: a base; a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure; and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position; whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached between two adjacent trays, the bottommost pair of supports being pivotally attached between a bottommost tray and the base.
 3. A container according to claim 2 wherein each support comprises a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally connected by a support hinge.
 4. A container according to claim 3 wherein each support hinge comprises: a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support arms; a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower support arms; and, a hole formed in the other of the upper and lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring button when the support is in the secured position.
 5. A container according to claim 1 wherein each support comprises a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.
 6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of trays are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
 7. A container according to claim 1 further comprising an advertising pivotally attached to an uppermost tray.
 8. A container according to claim 1 further comprising a lid configured to fit over the container when the container is in the shipping configuration.
 9. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: a base; a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure; and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray frame of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position; whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
 10. A container according to claim 9 wherein each tray frame comprises a pair of side members and a pair of end members, each side member overlapping one end member at one end thereof and the other end member at the other end thereof, each of the side members and the end members comprising a pair of holes therein such that the holes of adjacent side and end members line up when the tray frame is assembled, whereby the tray frame is held together by rivets extending through the holes of adjacent side and end members.
 11. A container according to claim 10 wherein the supports are pivotally attached to the tray frames by the rivets extending through the holes of adjacent side and end members.
 12. A container according to claim 9 wherein each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached between two adjacent tray frames, the bottommost pair of supports being pivotally attached between a bottommost tray frame and the base.
 13. A container according to claim 12 wherein each support comprises a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally connected by a support hinge.
 14. A container according to claim 13 wherein each support hinge comprises: a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support arms; a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower support arms; and, a hole formed in the other of the upper and lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring button when the support is in the secured position.
 15. A container according to claim 9 wherein each support comprises a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.
 16. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: a base; a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base, each tray other than a bottommost and a topmost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of the tray below, and pivotally attached at an opposite top edge thereof to a bottom edge of the tray above, the bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the base and the topmost of the trays being pivotally attached at a top edge thereof to an advertising panel; and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position; whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray's underside when the supports are in the secured position and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
 17. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: a base; a plurality of trays, each tray other than a bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of the tray below, the bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the base; a pair of supports pivotally attached to each of the plurality of trays, each support moveable between a secured and an unsecured position; whereby the container is convertible between: a display configuration wherein each tray and the pair of supports attached thereto, except the bottommost tray, form a triangular structure with the tray below when the supports are in the secured position, the bottommost tray and the pair of supports attached thereto forming a triangular structure with the base when the supports are in the secured position; and, a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position. 